Coors enters Senate contest

DENVER — Peter Coors entered the U.S. Senate race yesterday, announcing after a week of speculation that he would run for the Republican nomination to replace retiring Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

The 57-year-old scion of the famed Golden, Colo., brewing empire told a crowd of about 200 at the state Capitol that he wanted to repay his country for the freedom and prosperity his family has enjoyed.

“Why am I doing this?” asked Mr. Coors, chief executive of the Adolph Coors Co. “It’s really because I feel I owe this country a debt of gratitude for the prosperity I’ve enjoyed, and I want to show my gratitude.”

A longtime Republican donor who has never run for office, Mr. Coors won the endorsements of some of the state’s top Republican officeholders, including Mr. Campbell, Gov. Bill Owens, Lt. Gov. Jane Norton and Rep. Scott McInnis.

“We need to keep a senator who will support President George W. Bush,” Mr. Owens said. “We need a senator in the tradition of Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

“When you have to replace a Colorado legend, where do you turn? In this case, we’re turning to another Colorado legend.”

Mr. Coors faces a primary challenge from former Rep. Bob Schaffer, a three-term congressman from Fort Collins who entered the race last month.

The winner of the Aug. 10 primary is expected to square off against Attorney General Ken Salazar, the likely Democratic nominee, in November.

State Republicans have been scrambling to find a strong candidate since Mr. Campbell announced last month that he would not seek a third term. After most of the state’s top officeholders declined, Mr. Schaffer agreed to run and won the backing of the state’s top conservatives, including Mr. Owens.

But then Mr. Owens stunned the state by announcing last week that Mr. Coors would enter the race, even though the brewing magnate had said nothing. At yesterday’s event, Mr. Owens then switched his support from Mr. Schaffer to Mr. Coors, explaining that the party needed to rally behind the strongest candidate.

“We’re really lucky to have two outstanding candidates for U.S. Senate,” Mr. Owens said. “I just think that Pete Coors is a better fit for Colorado. He’s got more experience in the private sector. … His record in business and creating jobs is best for Colorado.”

Still, the governor’s switch led to speculation about a rift in the state party. Mr. Schaffer, 41, has won the backing of most top conservatives, including Sen. Wayne Allard, former Sens. Bill Armstrong and Hank Brown, and Reps. Marilyn Musgrave and Tom Tancredo.

Mr. Schaffer released a statement yesterday emphasizing that he would stay in the race, despite Mr. Coors’ entry, saying that his “promise to the people of Colorado will be kept.”

Analysts say there is little difference on the issues between Mr. Coors and Mr. Schaffer. Both have declared that their top issues are strengthening the economy, tax relief, improving education and homeland security.